Our dojo group is named Marishiten-Kai 摩利支天會 (there is historical precedence as the name was used in the Katori region by 2 or 3 other groups around the turn of the 20th century). Marishiten is one of the, if not the most important martial Deity in Japan. Marishiten (or Mārīcī मारीची in Sanskrit) is a "Ray of Light" and associated with light and the sun. Our group endeavors to be a "Ray of Light" for the practice of Katori Shintō-ryū, illuminating what we strive for in rigorous and correct practice of the tradition. For students seeking to join and follow that "Ray of Light", Katori Shintō-ryū does offers a practice that pushes them to cultivate themselves in body, mind and spirit. Students of Marishiten-Kai are expected to learn the physical movements, culture, history, etc., that are associated with an art such as this. It is hard physical training and there is much non-physical learning as well. Students are expected to be serious in their pursuit. Marishiten-Kai seeks to foster the same type of training environment that is found in most Koryū dojo in general and what had existed at one time at the Shinbukan dōjō in Japan under Ōtake-Sensei. 

The Instructor

W. Quan has 35 plus years of martial arts experience. His experience includes Wing-Chun, Muay-Thai and Gracie Jiu-Jitsu as well as "tasting" such arts as Kali/Escrima, Systema, Aikido and Boxing. He has been training exclusively in Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū since 2002 and became a Menkyo-Shidosha under Ōtake Risuke Sensei. In addition to training in the martial arts, he has experience in Executive Protection and is a Meditation Instructor in the Nyingma and Kagyu lineages of Tibetan Buddhism. Mr. Quan continues his learning and explorations through the study and practice of Tibetan and Japanese Buddhism (Tendai), Chinese internal arts, and the application of "internal strength" in traditional Chinese and Japanese martial arts as well as a personal exploration of Mind, Mindfulness and Awareness in the martial arts.